Editor's Note

The Charge

The mystery of what unfolded before the story of Jane Eyre is finally
revealed.

The Case

One of the burning questions left after reading Charlotte Brontë's
classic 19th-century novel Jane Eyre is what exactly the deal was with
Rochester's first wife. This violent madwoman appears suddenly, and her past is
never explained to any degree of satisfaction. While leaving it all to the
imagination of the reader was no doubt Brontë's intent, my curiosity was
left unsatisfied when I finished the novel. We know about Rochester's visit to
Jamaica and his subsequent sudden departure, but precious little else. I imagine
novelist Jean Rhys must have had the same question in mind when she read the
Brontë novel, since her 1966 novel Wide Sargasso Sea attempted to
fill in the blanks. In 1993, acclaimed Irish director John Duigan (Flirting) adapted and directed a film
adaptation of Rhys's novel. It became more infamous for the NC-17 rating the
MPAA slapped on it than for the high quality of the finished film.

In Wide Sargasso Sea Rochester's ambiguous first wife is finally
given a proper identity. She is Antoinette Cosway (Karina Lombard, The L
Word),a Creole woman who has inherited a plantation in Jamaica. As rich as
the land is, the plantation is struggling financially; nevertheless, Antoinette
decides to run it herself with the aid of slaves and family. It is around this
time that she enters into a romance with Edward Rochester (Nathaniel Parker,
Inspector Lynley), a charming but mysterious Englishman. At first their
romance and subsequent marriage go well, with the couple's mutual lust and
passion overpowering their differences. The problems begin well after the
marriage, when Rochester suddenly becomes cold and callous toward Antoinette.
Then the issue arises of who exactly owns the plantation, since although it is
Antoinette's by right, the property of a Victorian woman legally belongs to her
husband. As these struggles occur, Antoinette begins to lose her sanity.

Wide Sargasso Sea is a wonderful movie. It is refreshingly unabashed
in its sexuality and eroticism. I have grown so tired of the clichéd sex
Hollywood favors in its product that it was a real pleasure to see that frank
eroticism in a film is not dead. The sex scenes are not tasteless and crass but
healthy in their depiction of growing passion between two consenting
participants.

One does not need to have read the Rhys novel or even Jane Eyre to
enjoy the film, although Jane Eyre fans have a head start. It has a
sound, well-plotted story with startling characterizations. Duigan's film
proudly stands alone as both a keystone of the new erotic cinema and a fine
literary adaptation. In addition, Duigan is careful not to let the lush Jamaican
locations overwhelm the story he has to tell. Instead, the visuals and story
complement each other in perfect harmony.

The disc offers both Duigan's original NC-17 cut and the bowdlerized R-rated
Blockbuster cut. To see the R-rated cut is the cinematic equivalent of only
reading half a novel. Even though only a minute has been completely shaved off
the original cut, important shots have been replaced or cropped. Some of the
sheer impact is lost, and it is not the same film Duigan intended to be seen.
Wide Sargasso Sea is a prime example of why the movie ratings system
needs to be reformed. While the film is sexually frank, an R rating would have
been more than acceptable: This is not pornography or trash but a film that
should be seen by older teenagers who find themselves reading Jane Eyre
for a class assignment. The treatment of sex is tasteful and healthy, far
superior to the sexual attitudes found in many of the PG-13 and R-rated comedies
teens love.

New Line presents Wide Sargasso Sea in both widescreen and full-frame
versions on a single disc. My advice would be to stick with the widescreen
edition, as it is the version intended by the filmmakers. Besides, it is time to
cease supporting full-frame versions of widescreen films anyway. Getting back to
the matter at hand, the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen image is very pleasing to
the eye. It may appear soft to some, but since softness is evidently the intent
of director Duigan, I can forgive it. There is some grain, but it is a natural
effect of soft-focus photography and easily acceptable. The lush colors are the
standout treat of the transfer, with the boldness of the hues being very
startling. The colors may bleed on some television sets, but they never become a
distraction.

Audio is the standard Dolby Digital 2.0 mono job I have become accustomed to
by now. New Line has done very good work with the transfer here. The dialogue is
in perfect synch and tone with the picture. The music is appropriately light yet
majestic through the speakers. There are no major defects such as hiss and
popping, and the background is amazingly clean. This is as good as audio
transfers can get.

The sole extra offered here is the original theatrical trailer, presented in
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Watch it and discover how an ambiguous approach
can work with a trailer instead of giving the whole game away. There are also
trailers for Human Nature, Storytelling, and Sleeping Dictionary, all challenging
works of cinema that are worth seeing.

I realize that Wide Sargasso Sea is not for everyone. The sexual
frankness and bold eroticism will turn off a significant portion of any
potential audience, so those of you who are easily offended should turn back
while you still have the chance. Those who are more adventurous and open-minded,
however, should give this disc a try.